Black Hole Heartbeat

Ana - 66

Killers and murderers are different animals. She knew Elizabeth was the former. Her line of work called for it. Ana could reconcile that. But she couldn't let her murder Isoline. As they

boarded the shuttle, Elizabeth was silent. Ana hoped she would forgive her.

Elizabeth immediately walked to the window, gazing out over the plains of Tupurs as the shuttle

took off. Ana wanted to join her. But every word would be the wrong one. Silence could be

damaging too. A warm hand touched her.

"You did good," Rusalka said.

"What do you mean?" "I saw. Elizabeth was going to shoot her, wasn't she?"

Ana glanced up. Elizabeth was leaning into the glass with a clenched fist. Ana hunched over into

Rusalka, voice low.

"Did anyone else see?" "I don't think so."

Ana nodded.

"Why did you stop her?" Rusalka asked.

"You just said I did good." "But you couldn't have known I would complement you on it. I'm only curious of your reasons,

sweetie."

Ana took a deep breath. "I didn't want Elizabeth to kill an innocent person. I hope she realizes that she wouldn't have

wanted to either."

"Thank you," Rusalka said, standing up.

"Thank you?"

Had she just passed a test?

"Her death would have been unjustified. The rest of this journey will be much more enjoyable

now." A mischievously mysterious grin crossed Rusalka's face. Ana's eyes returned to Elizabeth.

"You should apologize," Rusalka said.

"I was helping her." "I know. But if you tell her that, she'll argue. If you apologize, she'll apologize too." Ana wasn't convinced.

"Trust me," Rusalka said.

Ana's legs ached, muscles stiff as she stood. Footsteps timid. Her hand nervously climbed

through her blonde hair, entangled in dirt and sweat. She reached the window but did not look

out at the vast, colorful galaxy. Instead, she stared down at her feet.

"You here to tell me off?" Elizabeth asked, casting her a sideways glance. "I shouldn't have interfered. I'm sure you knew what you were doing," Ana mumbled.

Her eyes did not rise. Elizabeth's hand touched her back, pulling her in closer. "I'm sure it wasn't like this when you were with Brack," Ana said.

Some nihilistic urge inside her forced it out. She felt her pulse beating on the base of her skull. "No. It wasn't," Elizabeth said simply. Ana's stomach became a hollow steel pot. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have –" "Me and Brack were too similar," Elizabeth continued, "He wouldn't have stopped me. And now he'd be trying to make me laugh. Take my mind off it." "I don't know any jokes," Ana said. Elizabeth kissed Ana's forehead. "You don't have to, Princess. That's the point," Elizabeth turned to the window, "I don't know how to be a good person. I'm broken. I'll always be a killer." "You're not a murderer," Ana said.

Elizabeth smiled. Ana rested her head on her shoulder.